Former butler Paul Burrell's life has turned around since being acquitted of stealing Diana's possessions and coming runner-up in ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

Mr Burrell, who lives in Farndon, has been rushed off his feet with offers of TV work and writing his second book, snatching precious moments with his wife Maria and grown-up boys Alex and Nick as he jets around the globe.

And with a holiday home in Florida there has been speculation the Burrells will emigrate to the States.

But in an exclusive interview with The Chronicle, Mr Burrell demonstrated his commitment to the area by revealing he bought his next door neighbour's house to accommodate his florists, currently located over the Welsh border in Holt.

'We've bought the next door house for the shop,' he said. 'Previously we had run the shop in Wales. We've no plans to emigrate to America.'

Mr Burrell said his decision to write a second book about his life with the princess was all about defending her memory and not motivated by money, although he says it will be his last.

'I want people to read my words, from someone who stood beside the princess for 10 years. I don't want them to read it from people who never knew her.'

He accused the tabloids of hypocrisy by criticising him on the front page but featuring articles inside revealing 'salacious details' about the princess' sex life by someone who never knew her.

'What do I do? Put yourself in my shoes. If you had lost a friend who was very close to you, do you sit back and do nothing? I have taken the criticism on the chin,' said Mr Burrell, who said he made sufficient money from his TV shows in Australia and America.

'Do I sit at home in Farndon, sit at the bar of the Farndon Arms drinking Guinness, or do I go out there and do what I think is right?'

Despite being prepared to take the brick-bats, Mr Burrell was this week irked after the Press portrayed him as attacking Princes William and Harry following his appearance on US breakfast TV.

'I said I sometimes feel as if I'm the only person shouting out loud for the princess' memory. The royal family are not doing anything about it, but my words were twisted and taken out of context. I will never criticise the boys.'

But while Mr Burrell admits to enjoying the limelight, his wife Maria is a 'home girl' who is a private and quiet person and hates being snapped by the paparazzi as they were coming out of a London restaurant this week.

'Maria is supportive of everything I do. This morning she rang up and said: 'Chuck, are you OK?'

Next year the inquiry into Diana's death by Lord Stevens is expected to conclude with inquests held into the deaths of Diana and her lover Dodi Al Fayed.

It was Mr Burrell's release of his letter from Diana, in which she suggested Prince Charles was planning an accident in her car, which sparked the investigation.

Mr Burrell has continued to help police and handed over the manuscript of his book before publication.

Asked whether her death was simply an accident caused by a drunk driver, he replied: 'I don't know. I don't have answers to all the questions.'

Mr Burrell refused to disclose whether he had contact with members of the royal family but admitted he had not had communications with Princes William and Harry which 'surprised' him given 'a lot of water has flowed under the bridge' since his first book in 2003.

Mr Burrell is eager to see a new film, released today, entitled The Queen, starring Helen Mirren.

The film looks at how the Royal Family coped with the aftermath of Diana's death.

'I will be fascinated to see that and I believe Helen Mirren is being talked about in terms of an Oscar for her portrayal of the Queen. I welcome anything which brings this into the public domain.'